Vin Dieselcontinues rolling strong , and mid - July is an one-year admonisher that he ’s roll stronger with historic period . Who knew Vin Diesel would become such a wonderful vintage , and age as he has . The action star with some acting chops is rapidly come near the half - century Saint Mark ( he just rick 52 ) , but there ’s so much to do before he kick it and stretches into the gilt years . As more people become fans of the teddy bear tough guy known asVin Diesel , we ’d like to let them know a few matter they ’d in all likelihood never guess .

Here are 10 lesser - known facts about Vin Diesel . Enjoy !

10. What’s In a Name?

For those under the impression that a badass likeVin Dieseldeserves to have a real name like Vin Diesel , we ’re gon na have to rent you down … though we ’ll let you down mildly . Vin Diesel is not the actual name of the actor who has taken to the giving screen to bring us up - the - ante action flick after - action mechanism flick . Vin Diesel interchange his name for screenland to offer a little more flair , but he was born Mark Sinclair . Mark never knew his biological father , and he ’s not quite sure where he sit down on the scope and scale of ethnicity , but we can all correspond that there is some unique stuff going on with the Diesel . Vin consume the Vin from Vincent , the surname of his stepfather , who raised him along with his mother , Delora .

Source : AP Photo / Chris Pizzello

9. Father of Three

Vin Diesel is very secret about his personal life . He considers himself of an undivided tribe in Hollywood — an actor who does n’t want their life   all over the front Sir Frederick Handley Page of magazines . He cites gentleman like Harrison Ford , Robert DeNiro , and his late ally , Paul Walker , as sources of “ private life individual ” inspiration . Stated , Vin does have a personal life , and it ’s moderately traditional when considering Hollywood newsmonger . He and Paloma Jimenez hitched their estate car together back in 2007 , and the twosome has welcome three child into the creation . It ’s hard to conceive of the hard - incarnate Xander Cage as a papa , but he most certainly is , and he does a okay job keeping his child away from the public eye that he so easy attracts . Are more minor on the elbow room ? Who ’s to say ? We would n’t be surprised to see Vin having kids well into a good quondam eld .

reservoir : AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez

8. Video Breakin'

Many have seen it , but many more have n’t . Vin Diesel had some moves in the 1980s , long before he made the move to movies . He was n’t a one - trick pony . Vin was into the early pelvic girdle - hop scene , maturate up in its birthplace , New York City . He made the most of his foray into the art and subculture , even appearing in some break dancing video . He also loved to rap , induce him an amazing , 1980s commonplace : a rappin ’ b - son . The videos are far-flung , uncommitted all over the cyberspace . And Vin … well , he looks as cool as you ’d imagine in his Adidas tracksuit , headband , and miniskirt - fro . Oh yeah , Vin had hair . mass of it . What he lacked in on - camera mien at an former historic period , he made up for with sheer charisma , and love for the breakin ’ . If you wanna score some former break dance moves , Vin can still extend up a tutorial . Watch here .

7. Iron Giant

Before Vin was able to proudly proclaim , “ I am Groot , ” he sound another beast of the silver screen . Vin scored the voice role of the Iron Giant inThe Iron Giant(which still plays in theaters regularly ) in 1999 , as he was reaching a stewing period in Hollywood . 1999 was a very good year for Vin as his first major features were released , but 1998 was the year the lightning collide with , and he score roles inSaving Private Ryan , andThe Iron Giant , alongside some people who were already at the top of their plot , and reckon down from the pinnacle of the A on the A - list . InThe Iron Giant , he star alongside Jennifer Aniston , and Harry Connick Jr. , and offered up one of the most underrated animated pic of all - time , and he ran into no trouble holding his own with the established veteran .

Source : Screenshot via Warner Bros.

6. Could Have Been Daredevil

How about a little woulda , shoulda , coulda , without the woulda and shoulda … ? call up the easy forgettableDaredevilfrom 2003 ? The one star Ben Affleck ? Did you make love Vin Diesel was offered the nominal role before Affleck and turned it down ? In the appendage of saying no , he create another icon : xXx . It ’s unhinged to cogitate that Vin was making dependable decisions in cinema before he roll in the hay what he was doing.xXxwasn’t a perfect small-arm of cinema , and it did n’t completely interfere with theDaredevilshooting schedule , but Vin opted to focus on promotingxXxover saying yes to Matt Murdock . The move thrust Vin into the spotlight . Now , we can all get worked up aboutxXx : The Return of Xander Cage , prepare for a 2017 release … when Vin hits the ripe old age of 50 !

rootage : Screenshot via twentieth Century Fox

5. Crisp and Clean

Speaking of Xander Cage , that sheik is intertwine up like few Heron before him . That persona may have even been a catalyst to the tattoo fury of the early 21st century . Either way of life , when it hail to Vin Diesel , and all of his cool tattoo , there ’s something everyone should know : he dumbfound his art done by a makeup artist … because his tattoo are bastard . Vin Diesel has maintain the bod crisp and clean throughout his calling and treats his physiology as a vacuous canvas . Whether he was guided in this direction by one of his early performing teacher , or he made the conclusion on his own , it was a good one . People hop to run a variety of role should keep themselves as blusher - able as possible . It leaves more to the imagination of the director , the actor and the originative team as they enter the process of developing a character .

Source : AP Photo / Lee Jin - man

4. The Beginning of Art

More delicious trifle from the spirit of Vin Diesel — Vin ’s stepfather , Irving Vincent , was an acting instructor , motorbus and gravid buff of the theatre . One might opine that Vin was led to toward the wings of the stage by this influence , but that ’s not quite how it encounter . Before he was Vin , Mark Sinclair and some of his pal , along with his brother , broke into a Greenwich Village theatre to vandalise it . In the process , they were caught by the theater director who yield the kids two options : she would call the police , or they could perform in the theater ’s next production . Vin opt for the latter and proceed working with the theater radical until he was coming of years . From there , he ventured to New York ’s famed Hunter College , and began studying creative written material , specializing in writing for the sieve .

Source : AP Photo / Thibault Camus

3. Total Dungeons & Dragons Nerd

There ’s no room Vin Diesel is aDungeons & Dragonsnerd , is there ! ? Oh yeah , he is ! In every horse sense . He loves the plot , and he has been playing for over three decade . He has even taught some of his ash grey screen co - star how to fiddle the pop pastime / preoccupation , based on menu , die , theatrical role , and role - playing . One example of his tutelage is dame Judi Dench . For those under the impression that Dungeons & Dragons is something only dweeb do , this will help redefine exactly what a “ nerd ” is . Yes , it ’s silly that the great unwashed are painted into boxes based on interest as if they would have no other interest . So , in some strange way , Vin Diesel is a flake of a Renaissance Man , prefer for the pen , the television camera , a morsel of B - Boying , Dungeons & Dragons , Father and break down stereotype ! We ’re worked up to see what Vin will do as he ages to full maturity .

Source : AP Photo / Ted S. Warren

2. He Breaks All The Hollywood Rules

When you ’re star in big film produced by studio , there is the guarantee of a great payday . This work in favor of the actors , as they ’re proffer a minimum rate through the SAG - AFTRA conjugation , and it ’s based on the budget of a film . The bigger the budget , the higher the minimum . However , most stars negociate way above the lower limit as a “ pay - or - play ” salary . Vin is a jeopardy - taker when it comes to his business transaction , take role and producing movies . Any big - prison term producer would secern a fellow industry professional , “ Never adorn your own money into a project . ” Vin Diesel ignore this unwritten rule , and negotiated to own the rights of theRiddickstories , rather of taking a payday for his fan - favorite cameo inFast and The Furious 3 : Tokyo Drift . He then go on to fundRiddickout of pocket , severally . That ’s brassy .

rootage : Screenshot via Universal Pictures

1. Spotted By Spielberg

Vin Diesel enjoyed a rocket engine ride to success and the A - List , thanks in part to the eyes of Steven Spielberg . The iconic director was capable to take in an independent project that boast Vin as the star , but more impressively , was written and directed by Diesel . Spielberg was so impressed by Vin , he offer him the opportunity to translate for the purpose of Adrian Caparzo , in what has widely become distinguish as one of the large war cinema ever made , Saving Private Ryan . Vin got into the mix with act ex-serviceman like Tom Hanks , Tom Sizemore , Adam Goldberg , and Edward Burns , and fit like a hand in glove . He was the young muscleman / bad guy of a chemical group sent to save Private Ryan , yet it was his soreness and compassion in the throes of state of war that led to his unfastening . nigh 20 year later , Vin proceed to roll out impregnable !

reservoir : Screenshot via DreamWorks Distribution